Last Thursday, an ODM Parliamentary Group (PG) met and resolved that party MPs who campaigned against the new Constitution should face sanctions including not being nominated to any parliamentary committee. Writer Titus Too spoke to Matungu MP David Were and his Muhoroni counterpart Ayiecho Olweny on their views.
YES: Muhoroni MP Ayiecho Olweny
QUESTION: Do you support the decision by the ODM Parliamentary Group to deny MPs who opposed the new Constitution a chance to serve on various parliamentary committees?
ANSWER: Definitely I support the decision. I was in the meeting and cannot act against the decision agreed upon. We should be fair and give a chance to leaders who can represent the party well. Ruto (Higher Education Minister) is ODM deputy party leader who represented us in Naivasha only to reverse his stand and act against the wishes of the party.
QUESTION: The targeted MPs have argued they were simply exercising their democratic right. Comment.
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| Muhoroni MP Ayiecho Olweny |
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| Matungu MP David Were |
ANSWER: It is up to them. It is also democratic to give or deny them nominations. We should give posts to other leaders who are ready to serve the party.
QUESTION: President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga sounded reconciliatory in their victory speeches at the KICC. Did the ODM's PG resolution contrast the PM who is the party leader?
ANSWER: The principals are entitled to their opinions as individuals.
QUESTION: There are those who feel the ODM leadership has become intolerant to democratic voices within its ranks. What is your view?
ANSWER: We need people who will fully represent the party. Now that the Constitution has been passed, our constituents are looking to us to deliver, failure to which we will be recalled as MPs and we can't accept this. We want House committee leaders who will perform.
QUESTION: Speaker Kenneth Marende has indicated all MPs have the right to serve on parliamentary committees. Do you agree?
ANSWER: But a parliamentary party can dewhip MPs who do not represent the party as expected. This happens in developed democracies including the United Kingdom and US.
QUESTION: Do you foresee ODM re-uniting given the gravity of the current controversy?
ANSWER: ODM is still a strong united party. It is only Ruto and a few members who are dissatisfied, otherwise the party is united.
QUESTION: The general feeling is that intra-party wrangles should not be allowed to cloud the formation of the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC). Comment.
ANSWER: Nothing will affect the constitutional process. The Constitution belongs to Kenyans and it will be implemented. ODM will nominate 14 representatives or a share to be given to it to take part in CIOC.
QUESTION: Should the PM come out and put a stop to the wrangling in the party?
ANSWER: Raila cannot stop Ruto. Ruto has remained in difference with Raila for the last three years and from what he is doing, he cannot be stopped.
NO: Matungu MP David Were
QUESTION: Do you support the decision by the ODM Parliamentary Group to deny MPs who opposed the new Constitution a chance to serve on various parliamentary committees?
ANSWER: Although this was a party decision, I don't support it. It was not a wise decision since every MP is entitled to his or her opinion.
QUESTION: The targeted MPs have argued they were simply exercising their democratic right. Comment.
ANSWER: When campaigns began, the President and the Prime Minister indicated that every person was free to support either side. We don't see why after the referendum, some MPs are being targeted.
QUESTION: President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga had sounded reconciliatory in their victory speeches at the KICC. Did the ODM's PG resolution contrast the PM who is the party leader?
ANSWER: What the PG resolved during their meeting contradicted the spirit by the two principals in their speeches after the Constitution sailed through.
QUESTION: There are those who feel the ODM leadership has become intolerant to democratic voices within its ranks. What is your view?
ANSWER: The intolerance to democratic ideals is not about the entire ODM leadership, but a section of top leaders. This is, however, expected in political parties because not all of us will think the same way. But people's opinions and rights should always be respected without discrimination.
QUESTION: Speaker Kenneth Marende has indicated all MPs have the right to serve on parliamentary committees. Do you agree?
ANSWER: I am in total agreement with this. The Constitution has now been passed and all MPs have the right to participate in the process and should not be denied nominations to various parliamentary committees.
QUESTION: Do you foresee ODM re-uniting given the gravity of the current controversy?
ANSWER: Politics is a game you cannot predict because it has no permanent enemies or friends. There is still room for reconciliation within the party.
QUESTION: The general feeling is that intra-party wrangles should not be allowed to cloud the formation of the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC). Comment.
ANSWER: I also agree wrangles should not interfere with this process. The Constitution is an important document and differences in political parties should never be used to stall the process.
QUESTION: Should the PM come out and put a stop to the wrangling in the party?
ANSWER: I request Raila to come out and give direction. He talked of tolerance and a new dawn for the country and that should be the stand of the party (ODM).
Source: The Standard | Online Edition
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